Electric switch lamp socket



Jan. 3, 1956 A. TISCIONE 2,729,711

ELECTRIC SWITCH LAMP SOCKET Filed Nov. 7, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ANTHONY TISCIONE.

Jan. 3, 1956 A. TISCIONE 2,729,711

ELECTRIC SWITCH LAMP SOCKET Filed Nov. '7, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. ANT HONY TISCIONE United States Patent ELECTRIC SWITCH LAMP SOCKET Anthony Tiscione, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application November 7, 1952, Serial No. 319,230

4 Claims. (Cl. 200-5114) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a lamp socket and more especially to certain improvements in a lamp socket of the general type described and claimed in my earlier application Serial No. 250,607, filed October 10, 1951.

In that earlier application, there is illustrated a lamp socket which includes a shell having adjacent halves molded of dielectric material and joined together with internal conductor members shaped at one of their ends to have the insulated ends of electric wires electrically connected thereto. The other ends of the conductor members are exposed within an internally threaded recess formed in the shell and which opens to the end thereof remote from the ends of the conductor members to which the wires are connected. Thus, by the simple act of threading the base of a conventional lamp into the threaded recess, the shell and end contacts of the lamp will make electrical contact with the ends of the conductor members exposed within the recess to cause the lamp to be illuminated.

It is the primary object of the present invention to make certain improvements in that prior lamp socket to provide switch means whereby the lamp can be turned on and off without having to unscrew the lamp from the recess or without having to disconnect the free-ends of the electric wires from the source of electric current.

Still further, the present invention proposes constructing one of the conductor members of separate parts having spaced end aligned adjacent ends between which a movable switch member is mounted in a manner to alternately make and break the circuit to the lamp as the switch member is moved manually in one direction or the other.

As a further object, the present inventionproposes mounting a contact piece through the switch member with its axis extended parallel to the adjacent ends of the one conductor member so as to make electrical contact with the adjacent ends in the one position of the switch member and to be spaced from the adjacent ends in the other position of the switch member.

The present invention further proposes the inclusion of a spring pressed means within the shell of the lamp socket acting directly on the switch member in a manner to hold the switch member in the one position in which the con-' tact piece is aligned with the ends of the conductor member or in the other position in which the contact piece is spaced from the ends of the conductor member.

Another object of the present invention proposes constructing the switch member as an elongated bar of dielectric material slidably supported in the shell to have its ends exposed from opposite sides of the shell to be manually pushed in one direction or the other for alternately aligning and spacing'the contact piece from the ends of the one conductor member.

A further object of the present invention proposes constructing the switch member as a disc rotatively mounted within the shell and from which anactuating arm extends radially to the exterior of the shell in a man ner to be used for turning the disc in one direction or the other for alternately aligning and spacing the contact piece from the ends of the one conductor member.

It is a further object of the present invention to construct lamp sockets of the type disclosed including switch means which are simple and durable, which are eflective for their intended purposes and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

On the accompanying drawings forming a material part of the present invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the lamp socket constructed in accordance with the present invention to include switch means.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the parts of the two-part conductor member used in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the other part of the two-part conductor member used in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the switch member used in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5.-

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the detent member which acts on the switch member in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5. a

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the other conductor member used in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating the lamp socket constructed in accordance with a modification of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged transverse longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged transverse longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12. v

Fig. 14 is a transverse horizontal sectional view taken on the line 14-14 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a bottom elevational view of the switch member used in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 11 to 14.

The lamp socket, according to the first form of the present invention shown in Figs. 1 to 10, includes a shell 20 having a recess 21 extended in from its one end and having its other or closed end rounded. The shell 20 is molded as two opposed halves 20 and 20 of any suitable dielectric material. of one of the synthetic resinous materials because of their ability to withstand breakage. However, if desired, the shell could be molded of hard rubber of any similar ma terial. Adjacent its open end, the recess 21 is formed with threads 22 to receive the threaded base of a conventional lamp or similar electrical device. Such lamps usually have shell and endcontacts through which electric current can be fed into the contained filament for illuminating the same. Between the open end of the recess 21 and the adjacent end of the threads 22, the shell has an outwardly flared wall 23 for guiding the threaded base of the lamp into the recess 21.

The inner ends of the threads 22 are spaced from the material of the shell 20 at the closed end of the recess 21 It is preferred to mold the shell 20 same dielectric material as that used for the shell The retaining disc 24 is dimensioned to have a snug fit within the recess 2i at the inner ends of the threads 22 and has a cavity 25,,seei igs. 2 and 3: The cavity faces the open end of the recess 21 and is provided to seat the end contact of the lamp which is screwed into the recess. Concentrically within the cavity, the retaining disc" 24 is formed with a square hole 26.

The rounded closed end of the shell 20 is formed with a transversely extended integral rib 27'. The rib 27 is extended parallel to the meeting line of the opposed halves 20 and 2W of the shell and has'one-half integrally formed with each of the shell halves. The rib 27 is formed with spaced passageways 28, see particularl'y'Fig. 2, which open into the adjacent faces of the halves 20 and 20". The passageways 28 extend from the outer face of the rib 27 into the recess 21.

Conductor members 29 and Stl are mounted in the passageways 28 and extend from the inner ends of the passageways into the recess 2i beyond the face of the retaining disc 24 to make electrical contact with the shell and end contacts of the lamp screwed into the recess. The conductor members 29 and 30 are formed of metal capable of conducting electricity and the member 29 is of two part construction while the member 30 has only onepicce. The conductor member 29' consists of an inner or upper part 29 and an outer or lower part 29 The upper part 29 is square in cross-section, see Fig. 6, and is formed intermediate of its ends with a shoulder 31'. The shoulder 31, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is clamped between the wall of the shell 20 at the closed end of the recess 21 and the adjacent face of the retaining disc 24 so that the part 29 will be held against longitudinal shifting relative to the shell 29. The one end of the upper part 29 extends through the square hole 26 of the retaining disc 24- and is exposed within the cavity of the disc to make electrical contact with the end contact of the lamp. The other end of the upper part 29 of the conductor member 29 is extended into the adjacent end of the respective passageway 28 and spaced from the adjacent end of the lower part 29*, asbest shown in Fig. 2.

The lower part 29 of the conductor member 29'is also square in cross-section and is of right angular formation to fit within a complementary right angularly formed part of the respective passageway 28-. The right angular formation of the lower part 29 holds the lower part against longitudinal movement relative to the shell 21 and retains its inner end properly spaced from the" adjacent end of the upper part 29 for a: purpose which will become clear as this specification proceeds.

The conductor member 30 intermediate of its ends, is formed with a shoulder portion 32' which is clamped between the material of the shell 2i at the inner end of the recess 21 and the adjacent face of the retaining disc 2'4 to securely hold the conductor member 39 in position. To one side of the shoulder 32, the conductor member 30' has a portion 33 square in cross-section and shaped to fit within the respective passageway 28. At the other side of the shoulder portion 32, the conductor member Sti'has a contact. portion 34 exposed beyond the retaining disc 24 and exposed Within a groove 35 formed within the recess 21 at the meeting faces of the halves 20 and 20 of the shell 26. The contact portion 34 has its inner face grooved to match the threads 22 and to make good electrical contact with the threaded shell contact of the lamp.

At the ends of the passageways 28, adjacent the closed end of the shell 24), the lower part 29* of the conductor member 29 and the square portion 33 of the conductor member 30' are formed with socket portions 36. The socket portions 36 open to the open ends of the passageways 28 and are set slightly inward from the open ends of the passageways 28 so that the socket portions cannot he accidentally short circuited. Electric wires 37 having wire strands 38 enclosed within the usual insulation cover.-

ings 39 have their ends inserted into the socket portions 36 with their insulation coverings 39 intact, as best shown in Fig. 2.

Means is provided for anchoring the ends of the wires 37 in position within the socket portions 36 while at the same time completing the electric contact between the conductor members 29 and 30 and the wire strands 38 of the wires. To permit this, the sides of the socket portions 36, which are faced outward. have threaded holes 4i), see Fig. 10, in axial alignment with threaded holes 41 formed in the adjacent faces of the halves 20 and 26 of the shell 29. The holes 41 open to the ends of the rib 27. Anchor screws 42 are threaded into the aligned holes 4'6 and 41 and at their inner ends have conical portions 43 which are sharply pointed. When the anchor screws 53 are tightened into position, the conical portions 43 pierce the insulation coverings 3? of the electric wires 37 and contact the wire strands 38 completing the electric circuit fromv the wires to the conductor members 29 and 36. The free ends of the wires 37' must of course, be connected to a source of elec tric current. It will be appreciated that with the conical portions 43' piercing the insulation coverings 3 the endsof the electric wires 37 will be secured in position within the socket portions 36. This method of anchoring, the uncovered ends of. the wires 37' in position is described in greater detail and claimed in my prior application referred to supra.

Disposed between the parts 29 and 29 of the conductor member 29, there is a switch member 44. The switch member is molded as an elongated bar of the same insulation material used for forming the shell 20. Between the adjacent faces of the parts 29 and 29 of the conductor member 29, the halves 20 and 20 of the shell are formed with and aligned apertures 45, see Fig. 4, through which the switch member is slidabl'y extended. The apertures 45 extend at right angles to the meeting, faces of the halves of the shell 20 and the apertures 45 and the switch member 44 are of complementary noncircular formation so that the switch member can be manually moved longitudinally in one direction or the other without rotative movement relative to the shell. The switch member 44' is of a length greater than the combined length of the apertures 45 and has its ends rounded to the shape of the outer face of the shell 20.

Molded into the material of the switch member 44, intermediate of its ends, there is a metallic contact piece 46 which has its axis extended parallel, to the axis of the adjacent ends of the parts 29 and 29 of the conductor member 29. In one position of the switch member 44,

as shown in Figs. 2 to 4, the contact piece 46 makes electrical contact with the adiacent ends, of the parts 29 and 29 ofthe conductor member 29 so that the. lamp. screwed into the recess 21'. will be turned on. When the switch member 44' is pushed in the other direction, the contact piece 46 will be out of electrical contact with the adjacent ends of the parts 29 and 29 so that the lamp will be turned off without having to remove the same from the recess 21 or without having to disconnect the ends of the wires 37 from the source of electric current.

Provided in connection with the shell 20, there is means for releasably holding the switch member 44' in either of its two positions. The holding means is characterized by'a groove 47 formed in the one side of the switch member 44. At the ends of the groove, 47' there are deep, recesses 48 and 49 spacedl by an intermediate cam portion 50 which is bulged toward the open side of the groove 47. A detentrnember 51 having a plunger portion 52 and an enlarged shoulder portion 53 is sli'd'ably fitted within complementary cutouts 54 formed in the adjacent faces of the halves: 20 and 20 of the shell 20. An expansion spring 55. is positioned within. the cutouts 54 and operates against the shoulderportion- 53 of the detent member 51; holding: it. in an extended position in which the free end of its; plunger portion 52 is extended into the groove- 47 and engages with either the recess 48 or the recess 49;

That free end of the plunger portion 52 is rounded so that the cam portion 50 can ride freely past that free end when the switch member 44 is pushed in one direction or the other. With the free end of the plunger portion 52 located within the recess 48, as shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the contact piece 46 is engaged with the ends of the parts 29 and 29 of the conductor member 29. However, when the switch member 44 is pushed in the other direction, the cam portion 50 will ride past the free end of the plunger portion 52 pressing outward on the detent member 51 against the action of the spring 55.

As the recess 49 moves into alignment with the detent member 51, the spring 55 will push outward thereon snapping the free end of the plunger portion 52 into the recess 49 holding the switch member 44 in the position in which the contact piece 46 is out of alignment with the adjacent ends of the parts 29 and 29 of the conductor member 29. The switch member 44 is so proportioned that in either of its two positions, one end thereof is flush with the respective outer face of the shell 20 indicating the direction in which the switch member 44 must be moved to turn the lamp either on or off.

From Fig. 2 of the drawing, it will be appreciated that all of the parts of the lamp socket can be laid in position within one of the halves of the shell 20 and the other half laid in proper position on top of the first half. The halves 20 and 20 of the socket can then be heat sealed together or can be joined using a bonding agent for the material of which the halves are formed so as to form an integral unit of the halves. After the halves 20 and 20 have been joined together, the retaining disc 24 is slipped into position within the recess 21 with the end of the part 29 of the conductor member extended through the square hole 26. However, before the retaining disc 24 is mounted in position, there is placed within the bottom of the recess 21 a quantity of a non-conductive cementitious material 56 which when it becomes hard serves to secure the retaining disc 24 in position. Assembly of the lamp socket is then complete except for the attachment of the ends of the wires 37 which is done when an installation of the lamp socket is made.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 11 to 15, the lamp socket is characterized by a slightly different switch member for controlling the illumination of the lamp screwed into the recess 21 of the shell In this form of the invention, the switch member 44' is in the form of a disc of insulation material rotatively positioned within a complementary circular cavity 60 formed in the adjacent faces of the halves 20* and 20 of the shell 20. The contact piece 46' is mounted through the switch member 44 on one side of its rotation axis and the groove 47' opens to the bottom face of the switch member 44' on substantially the other side of its rotation axis from the contact piece. The detent member 51' is positioned to slide vertically parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shell 20' and has the free end of its plunger portion 52 extended into the groove 47', just as in the previous form of the invention.

Extending radially from one side of the switch member 44', there is an elongated operator stem 61. The free end of the operator stem 61 is projected slidably through a slot 62 formed in the shell half 20- and which extends outward from the respective half of the cavity 60. With the operator stem 61 in the position shown in Figs. 11 to 14, the contact piece 46' is aligned with the ends of the parts 29 and 2Z9" of the conductor member 29 completing the electric circuit to the lamp. When the operator stem 61 is turned to the dot and dash position shown in Fig. 14, the contact piece 46 will be out of alignment with the parts 29 and 29 so that the lamp will be extinguished. The detent member 51' functions to hold the switch member 44 in either of its two positions.

In all other respects, the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 11 to 15 is similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 10 and like reference numerals are used to identify like parts.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the present invention proposes several different methods for incorporating switch members into lamp sockets formed entirely of dielectric material. The primary function of the switch members is to permit the lamps or other electrical devices connected with the sockets to be turned on and off without having to disconnect the same from the sockets or without having to disconnect the socket from the source of electric current.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is'reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is: I

l. A lamp socket comprising a shell having an insulating, sectional recess opening to one end thereof, said recess being internally threaded adjacent its open end to receive in threaded engagement the threaded base of an electric lamp having shell and end contacts, said shell having spaced passageways extended in from its end opposite its open end and opening into said recess, rigid conductor members mounted in said passageways and extended into said recess to make electrical contact with the shell and end contacts of a lamp, one of said conductor membersbeing formed of separate parts having spaced end aligned adjacent ends, an insulating switch member movably mounted between the adjacent ends of the parts of the said one conductor member, said switch member having a contact piece alignable with and disalignable from said adjacent ends, and means within said shell and engaging said switch member holding it in a position in which said contact piece is either in alignment with or disalignment with the adjacent ends of the parts of the said one conductor member, said holding means comprising a groove formed in said switch member and having spaced recesses at its ends separated by an intervening cam portion, a detent member slidably positioned within said shell in alignment with said groove, and a spring retaining said detent member in a position engaged with one or the other of said recesses, said shell being formed of opposed halves having adjacent faces joined together, said halves of said shell having cutouts in their adjacent faces within which said detent member is slidably positioned and within which said spring is mounted, said switch member being a disc of dielectric material turnably supported within a complementary circular cavity formed in the adjacent faces of the halves of said shell, and means for turning said disc of dielectric material in one direction or the other, said rigid conductor members having socketed ends for connection to flexible conductors.

2. A lamp socket comprising a shell having an insulating, sectional recess opening to one end thereof, said recess being internally threaded adjacent its open end to receive in threaded engagement the threaded base of an electric lamp having shell and end contacts, said shell having spaced passageways extended in from its end opposite its open end and opening into said recess, n'gid conductor members mounted in said passageways and extended into said recess to make electrical contact with the shell and end contacts of a lamp, one of said conductor members being formed of separate parts having spaced end aligned adjacent ends, an insulating switch member movably mounted between the adjacent ends of the parts of the said one conductor member, said switch member having a contact piece alignable with and disalignable from said adjacent ends, and means within said shell and engaging said switch member holding it in a position in which said contact piece is either in align ment with or disalignment with the adjacent ends of the parts of the said one conductor member, said holding means comprising a groove formed in said switch memher and having spaced recesses at its ends separated by an intervening cam portion, a detent member slida-bly' positioned within said shell in alignment with said groove, and a spring. retaining said detent member in a position engaged with one or the other of said recesses, said shell being: formed of opposed halves having adjacent faces joined together, said halves of said shell having cutouts in their adjacent faces within which said detent member is slidably positioned. and within which said spring is mounted, said switch member being a disc of dielectric material turnabl'y supported within a complementary circular cavity formed in the adjacent faces of the halves of said. shell, and means for turning said disc of dielectric material in one direction or the other, said turning means comprising an operator stem extended from onev side of said discofi dielectric material, one of said halves or said shell having a slot extended radially from said circular cavity through which said operator stem is extended to be manually moved in one direction or the other to simi larly turn said disc of dielectric material, said. rigid conductor members having sockete'd ends for connection to flexible conductors.

3, In an electric lam-p socket, a longitudinally split shell having complemental halves of insulating material, said halves having comp'lemental cylindrical screw-threaded recesses constituting asocket portion with comp-lemental longitudinally disposed grooves in the faces of said recesses, said halves having co'mplement'al' longL tudinally disposed passageways communicating withsaid recesses and having complement-a1 transversely disposed apertured portions, a rigid conductor in one of said passageways having a screw threadedend portion received in the complemental grooves in the faces of the recesses, the threads on said end portion forming a continuation of the threads on the faces of the recesses, two spaced rigid conductors inthe other passageway, the ends of the said latter conductors being spaced from each other, one of said spaced conductors having a contact at one end disposed in the center of the socket portion, the other said spaced conductor having an offset extending conductor portion, a switching device pivot'ally' supported in the complemental transversely disposed apertured portions including an. insulating disc carrying a contact piece movable into and outof contact with the spaced ends of 8 the two spaced conductors, an actuating handle on the disc for selectively operating said contact piece.

4. In an electric lamp socket, a longitudinally split shell having complemental halves of insulating material, said halves having complemental cylindrical screw-thread"- edrecesses constituting a socket portion with complemental longitudinally disposed grooves in the faces of said recesses, said halves having complemental longitudinally disposed passageways communicating with said recesses and having complemental transversely disposed apertured portions and having transversely disposed grooves constituting holes, a rigid conductor in one of said passageways having a screw-threaded end portion received in the complemental grooves in the faces of the recesses, said threads forming a continuation of the threads on the faces of the recesses, two spaced rigid conductors in the other passageway, the ends of the said conductors being spaced from each other, one of said spaced conductors having a contact atone end disposed in the center of the socket portion, a switching device pivotally supported in the complemental transversely disposed aperturcd portions including an insulating disc carrying a contact piece movable into and out of contact with the spaced ends of the two spaced. conductors, an actuating handle on the disc, sockets onthe ends of the rigid Coud-uctors remote from the socket portion, and pointed anchor screws in the transverse holes for piercing and anchoring insulated flexible conductors in the sockets in operative connection with the rigid conductors.

References (liter! in the fi-ie of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,021,195 Knauft Mar. 26, 1912 1,450,253 Douglas Apr. 3, 1923 1,835,566 Hersee Dec. 8, 1931 2,114,826 Zelov Apr. 19, 1938 2,169,868 Benander Aug. 15, 1 939 2,454,069 Lefler Nov. 16, 1948 2,503,040 Gradischinig, Jr. Apr. 4, 1950 2,508,692 Souza May 23, 1950 2,518,255 Roeser Aug. 8, 1950 2,524,496 Tiscione Oct. 3, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 39,545 France Nov. 30, 1931 759,802 France Nov. 23, 1933 w s r 

